Whenever I think of February, I think of Valentines Day. Whenever I think of Valentines Day, I think of hearts. So I knew when I was planning my theme of stitches for February that I had to come up with something that resembled hearts. 

Have you joined the Desert Blossom Stitch Along? For the year of 2019, we are together learning 4 new crochet stitches per month. Be sure to join the community in my Facebook group, or view the details here!

To view the master list of stitches released so far, click HERE! January’s stitches were a winter bobble theme. 

Last thing before we get started on this stitch: I created a bundle of 4 Valentines stitch patterns on Etsy which can be found here. Included is the Heart Stitch, plus 3 OTHER lace stitch patterns (you’ll get a sneak peak to the rest of February’s stitches if you buy this bundle!!) All the stitches are written out for easy printing. Find this bundle HERE!

How to Crochet the Heart Stitch

All right, lets get started!

• To Pin this Tutorial to your Pinterest Boards, click HERE
• To add this Stitch Pattern to your Ravelry queue, click HERE
• To get the ad-free, printable version of this pattern (+12 stitches in an easily formatted ebook) click HERE

Notes

• Stitch Pattern is a multiple of 4+1
• Ch 3 at beginning of row counts as a dc
• Tutorial will be provided for tricky parts of stitch

Materials

You can potentially use any yarn and hook for this stitch. However, here is what I used:

• Worsted Weight Yarn
• H/8 Crochet Hook

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1/ Adalyn Pullover 2/ Moonbeam Baskets 3/ The Pansy Stitch

Instructions

Fsc 4+1 (to start with a chain stitch, you will need a multiple of 4+2, and then a row of single crochet).

Row 1: Ch 3 (counts as a dc, here and throughout) Dc in next 2 fsc. *Ch 1, sk next fsc, 3 dc in next fsc. Ch 1, sk next fsc, dc in next fsc. Rep from * until 2 fsc left. Dc in last 2 fsc. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 3, dc in next dc. Ch 1, sk next dc, 2 dc in next dc. Sl st in next dc. 2 dc in next dc. *Ch 2, sk next dc, 2 dc in next dc. Sl st in next dc. 2 dc in next dc. Rep from * across until 3 dc are left. Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in last 2 dc. Turn. NOTE: For help with making the “hearts”, see pictures following Row 4. 

Row 3: Ch 3, dc in next dc. Dc in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk next 2 dc, dc in next sl st. Ch 1, *sk next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-2 space. Ch 1, sk next 2 dc, dc in next sl st. Ch 1. Rep from * across, till 4 dc and one ch sp are left. Sk next 2 dc, dc in next ch sp. Dc in last 2 dc. Turn.

Row 4 (FOLLOWING PICTURES ACCOMPANY THIS ROW): Ch 3, dc in next dc. Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in ch sp. Ch 1, sk next dc, 2 dc in next dc. Sl st in next dc. 2 dc in next dc. *Ch 2, sk next dc, 2 dc in next dc. Sl st in next dc. 2 dc in next dc. Rep from * across, until 4 dc and one ch sp are left. Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch sp. Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in last 2 dc. Turn.

Like this pattern so far? Want the printer-friendly version (plus 3 BONUS stitch patterns—see picture below!)

Click HERE for more information!

Row 5: Ch 3, dc in next dc. Dc in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sk next dc, 3 dc in next ch sp. *Ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in next sl st. Ch 1, sk 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch sp. Rep from * across, till 3 dc and one ch sp are left. Ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch sp. Dc in last 2 dc. Turn.

Rep rows 2-5 for stitch pattern!

Don’t forget to share your stitches with the hashtag #desertblossomstitchalong and tag me on Instagram and Facebook! 
To view the master list of all the stitches in my Stitch Along, click HERE.

More Valentines Themed Patterns:

• Crochet Heart Coaster
• Amore Shawl (uses the heart stitch!)
• Crochet Heart Applique 3 Sizes
• Romantic Crochet Lace Shawls

To view all of my tutorials, click HERE.

Happy Crocheting!

—Rachel

The post How to Crochet the Heart Stitch appeared first on .

You just can’t have Valentine’s Day without a homemade card…am I right? This week I started making these easy DIY cards that incorporate an adorable tiny crochet heart on the front!

Personally, I love anything that has to do with cardmaking. Whether it’s a simple paper card, or something more complex with crocheting, or a foiling project like this!

For this card design in particular, I made 2 different types of cards, but the basic idea for them is the same. And you can totally customize these to make them EXACTLY your style!

Before we start on the cards, you will need to have some tiny crochet hearts already made. I published the pattern for them completely FREE…just click here.

Or, you can also buy the easily printable version of the pattern (only $3.50) HERE! Oh, and did I mention…this pattern includes 3 sizes of hearts—so you can actually make bigger ones for decoration too! That sounds like a win-win to me…

All right, let’s get to the tutorial for these cards!

How to Make DIY Valentines (with crochet hearts!)

• To Pin this tutorial to your Pinterest Boards, click HERE
• To buy the ad-free, PDF version of this pattern, click HERE

Materials:

• Mini Crocheted Hearts—click HERE for the pattern to make these (they’re super quick & easy!)
• Embroidery thread MATCHING the color yarn you use for your hearts
• A sharp needle with a big enough eye to fit the embroidery thread through
• Card Stock Paper—this is for the main “body” of the card. You can use simple card stock like I did in one card, or decorative card stock (like the red polka dot paper). You can find paper like this at any craft stores like Joann or Michaels!
• Plain White Printer Paper—we’ll use this for layering some other elements
• Scrapbook tape (or regular double sided sticky tape)
• A Scrapbook cutter (or scissors, a pencil and ruler)
• Various Scrapbook punches (if desired)—these can also be found at your local Joann or Michaels!

Note: You can make your cards however big or small you want. You can customize them however you want too. But I will show you exactly how I made mine!

Step 1

Cut out a piece of card stock paper that is 8.5″ by 5.25″.

Step 2

Fold the paper in half. The body of your card is made!

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Step 3

Now cut out the white printer paper to a size smaller than the front of the card. In my polka dot card, I cut the paper to 4″ by 2.5″. In the light pink card, I cut the paper to 4.5″ by 3″.

Step 4

Now we will sew our crochet hearts to the printer paper!

First, thread a needle with your embroidery floss. Tie a large knot close to the end of the thread.

Next, position your heart on the cutout paper. When you have it laid how you want it, pull the needle through from back to front. Make sure the knot is on the backside of the paper.

Step 5

Continue to sew around the entire outside edge of the heart, until you get back where you started. Helpful tip: when sewing on the right side of the heart, make your “stitches” super tiny so the embroidery thread doesn’t show through too much.

The stitches on the backside can be bigger, though! (See picture).

Finish by knotting your working thread to the original knotted end. Trim ends.

Step 6

Attach the paper with the heart to the main body of the card using scrapbook tape (or regular double sided sticky tape would work fine too. I would advise against using glue because it will leave the paper extra wrinkled.)

To avoid wrinkles with the tape, put it around the outside of the paper, and maybe a bit in the center. Don’t put any on the stitches of the heart.

Then smooth the paper carefully onto the card stock!

Step 7

Attach any extra embellishments if desired.

For my polka dot card, I simply used a scrapbook punch to make a lace-like cutout, and then I glued it on.

For my light pink card, I layered some other purple paper along with some more white paper with “Happy Valentine’s Day” printed on it.

If you want to print it out just like mine, I created a FREE PRINTABLE just for you!! That’s right! Click HERE to download a PDF with the Happy Valentine’s Day message just like mine.

See picture below:

After layering these together, I simply attached it to the card with more scrapbook tape! (Don’t forget to grab your free printable here).

Easy & fun, right? I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Now go write some awesome Valentine’s messages for your loved ones.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

To view all of my free patterns, click HERE. To get a special bonus straight to your inbox, sign up for my email list below:

Happy Crocheting! (And paper crafting )

—Rachel

The post How to make DIY Valentine Cards with Crocheted Hearts appeared first on .